The Residency Mess at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh: History and Traditions

The Residency Mess at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh: history and traditions

RAP Burt Retired Anaesthetist and Clinical Pharmacologist, Inveresk, UK

ABSTRACT For almost 250 years the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary was staffed with Published online September 2009 resident physicians and surgeons. This paper traces the history and the traditions of the Residency Mess, its inhabitants’ lives, duties and leisure activities and how Correspondence to RAP Burt, these have changed over the years. 22 Carberry Road, Inveresk, East Lothian EH21 8PR, UK Keywords Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Old Residents’ Club, Residency Mess, Royal tel. +44 (0)131 653 0560 Infirmary of Edinburgh e-mail [email protected] Declaration of Interests No conflict of interests declared.

Few, indeed there must be, among the numerous old residents, who do not look back upon their period of duty in the Royal Infirmary as the most noteworthy and the most epoch making in their lives.1

Could an entity such as the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh’s (RIE) Residency Mess really mould careers and remain a special place in the hearts and minds of those who worked there? Would the first year or two of postgraduate medical practice really be influenced by and benefit from such an institution? Perhaps an explanation of this special place will provide an answer. Figure 1 Photograph of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh on the 19th annual dinner menu of the Old Residents’ Club, A brief chronology from the late 1920s. (With kind permission of the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Library.) Starting in August 1729 there have been four Royal Infirmaries in Edinburgh. The first was a house at the Once again, growth, overcrowding and an inability to head of Robertson’s Close, rented from the Town expand led, in 2002, to the creation of the fourth Royal Council to form a four-bed hospital which in 1736, Infirmary of Edinburgh, together with the now adjacent under a Royal Charter, became the first Royal Infirmary University Medical School, at Little France, on the south- of Edinburgh. In 1741 patients were admitted to a eastern outskirts of the city. As visitors and patients nearby, purpose-built, second Royal Infirmary, which had traverse the ground-floor corridor, some may wonder at 228 beds. Two surgical buildings were added in 1832 the three wooden panels hanging on the wall. Carved and 1853, but growth and overcrowding on the site led, with names and some dates, they are part of a dining- in 1879, to a third Royal Infirmary being built at Lauriston room table, tangible vestigia of the varied and changing Place, incorporating medical, surgical and support life and traditions in the Mess that once housed the facilities, with a Residency as an integral part of the residents, an institution that today has been excised construction. This was the first voluntary hospital in from the life of newly qualified physicians. Scotland, with a manager and hospital superintendent appointed by the Court of Contributors, an arrangement The start of the ‘Residency’ that continued until the founding of the NHS in 1948. It was designed with 555 beds, although initially only 477 In 1743 Robert McKinley became the first ‘resident beds were used, with four wards being held in reserve.2 physician’ (although his title was actually Clerk of the The infirmary was funded by charitable contributions, House), a post that required him to be medically and with an annual average cost of £60 per bed the educated and unmarried.2 He was charged to give all his managers sought individuals to endow a bed to be time to his duties, which included keeping records of named for them. In 1881 the first endowment came patients on the waiting list and maintaining notes of their history from the scholars of Merchiston Castle School,2 and progress following admission and treatment, as given to subsequently all donors were identified on boards in the him by the physicians and surgeons. He had to acquaint main surgical corridor. the matron with diets prescribed for each patient and

268 The Resident’s Mess at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

send a copy of each prescription to the apothecary. At Edinburgh resident appointed by the managers and who first McKinley received no salary, but two years later he had lived in the residency for the statutory period of six was granted an annual salary of £10. It would seem that months. The membership fee was one guinea.5 he was a vexatious individual, frequently disagreeing with the matron and making accusations against her and the The Old Residents’ Club was a dining club that provided treasurer.2 Although McKinley apologised, the managers an opportunity to meet old friends and reminisce,1 a dismissed him from his post in 1747,2 to be replaced by chance for ‘newly fledged youngsters to associate with a Mr Petrie and a Mr Sutherland, who shared the duties veterans’. Such was the bond between members that of clerk and apothecary for an annual salary of £10 each. many travelled long distances to attend the annual dinner in Edinburgh each June. Three menus from the late 1920s When Petrie resigned in 1750, the infirmary appointed survive; on the front of each is a photograph of the medical students to be clerks to the physicians and current president and on the back a group photograph of surgeons. They lived in the infirmary but were allowed the president with his fellow residents. Another to attend university classes so long as these did not photograph shows the RIE, taken from the Meadows, in interfere with their clinical duties in the hospital. The which flocks of sheep graze contentedly (Figure 1). role of the medical clerks was the same as that performed by McKinley, but the surgical clerks were, in But it is for the founders’ second objective that we owe addition, responsible for the care of the surgical the members a colossal debt, for the club became the de instruments, notification of the operations and the facto recorder and repository of material in order ‘to surgeons involved, directing the surgical dressers and make a history of the Infirmary, from the point of view even performing minor operations themselves.2 At this of the residents, a feasible piece of work’.1 The club time each ‘chief’ would have had one clerk. records5–7 provide a chronological list of residents and their activities, while giving us some insight into their The medical clerks had rooms in a ‘House for Resident lifestyle. The club existed until 2 September 1974, and its Officers’, shown in plans of 1853 as being beside the records are now part of the Centre for Research medical wards,1 but the surgical clerks had no separate Collections (CRC) at the University of Edinburgh. dwelling and were given single rooms in close proximity to the surgical theatres, in reality creating two residencies. rules and regulations By 1775 standards had risen and the appointment of clerks was restricted to students who had completed two In 1838 university medical professors had three clinical university terms or ‘sessions’ and at least one year of clerks, appointed for three months, while ordinary attendance at the infirmary.2 An additional task allocated physicians and surgeons had ‘resident clerks’ appointed to them all was the collection of fees from patients, for for two years. There were six residents in all; they lived which the clerks received an annuity of £10 per annum, and dined in-house and paid £100 for their board. but this privilege was withdrawn in 1791. In 1773, Regulations and duties for resident clerks were issued in Wilkinson Manuel, a medical clerk, asked to have his 1843, but it was not until July 1851 that all residents had laundry done in the infirmary or to receive an allowance to be qualified, holding a degree in medicine or a diploma to cover this. A sum of £2 per quarter was authorised for in surgery. From then on they were appointed for six one year but not until 1909 was the allowance formally months and there was no charge for board. A name granted.2 In 1800 the infirmary insisted that the clerks change was instituted in February 1854 when all clerks must pay £20 per annum for ‘board and bed’;3 this was were designated either resident house physician or increased to 30 guineas in March 1818.4 resident house surgeon, depending on their degree or diploma, and they continued to maintain the ledgers in The Old Residents’ Club which patient histories were recorded, with the authenticity of these notes confirmed by the counter-signature of the Although very little has come down to us of residency life relevant chief of the ward. In 1869 resident numbers at the second RIE, Alexander James mentions the dining- increased to nine, and in 1892 to 12 (Figure 2).2 room as a feature with ‘the wonderful table bearing on its surface the names of successive batches of residents’.1 It When the new intake of residents arrived to start their history seems likely that James and his colleagues had been jobs in April 1895, the manager of the Court of residents around the time of the move to Lauriston Place Contributors produced a volume listing rules governing in 1879, for in 1895 they founded the Edinburgh Royal the residency, and before taking up their position all Infirmary Old Residents’ Club, with James as its first residents had to report to the superintendent and sign president. The initial aim of the club was to provide ‘good their names in acceptance of these rules.8 Beneath the fellowship, interchange of confidence, and unity of aims printed rules each page had 16 lines for residents’ between past and present residents and, so far as possible, signatures and the identification of the chief with whom to further the interests of the Royal Infirmary and medical they were to work. These books, which ultimately education in Edinburgh’.1 Membership was available to any amounted to five volumes, continued to be used until

40 or Resident Surgeon, he will not be party to any 40+ conduct… which may disturb or frighten the patients or members of the Nursing Staff.’ 30 29 Evidence from the interwar years shows little of note, 20 21 22 apart from a 14-page booklet of advice for residents produced by the hospital superintendent.9 Among the 10 12 topics covered was advice on how to deal with infectious 9 disease: remove the patient to the City Hospital, get the 6 0 house steward to have the bed disinfected and the 1838 1869 1892 1899 1921 1953 1961 infected bedding removed. If two patients were involved the ward must be closed – advice which could be Figure 2 Resident numbers in the RIE Mess, 1838–1961. usefully applied today. Economy featured in calls to restrict X-rays because of their expense, to use drugs 1974 and provide a record of all the residents from British manufacturers as they were cheaper than in the RIE and later the Simpson Memorial Maternity imports and to contact patients by letter or postcard Pavilion (SMMP). where possible and not by telephone. Private calls would be charged to the resident. At this time most anaesthetics Initially there were seven rules emphasising that the were given by the residents, and the notes include advice residents themselves were responsible for regulating the on chloroform and ether, a reminder to check the affairs of their Mess and making their own rules for the patient’s heart, lungs and kidneys before ‘giving conduct of these affairs. Each resident was to be Mess anaesthesia’ and a warning that any student giving president for a week, in rotation, and responsible for anaesthesia was to be supervised. maintaining the rules and communicating with the superintendent. Other rules covered the hours at which In 1939 the residents in the SMMP, which had its own the dining-room was to open and close and the residency, added their signatures to those of the RIE abatement of noise. On the first page, 12 residents residents in the rules book, in which the first resignations signed their names, one for each chief. On completion of as a result of call-up for the Second World War appear each intake the page was ‘closed’ with a line and at this time. A year later all SMMP residents were female, comments if necessary, all in red ink. and by 1941 there were three female residents in the RIE, all probably accommodated in the infirmary and not By April 1899 a pattern was established whereby the in the Mess. residents changed every April and October. Twenty-one residents for 15 chiefs (several surgeons had two But all was not plain sailing in the Mess. In June 1944 residents) signed their names agreeing to the first the secretary wrote to the medical superintendent amendment, rule 7: ‘Every Resident is entitled to the protesting against the proposal to have a resident clinical exclusive use of his room or rooms, and he shall be at tutor, as this would likely create an upper and a lower perfect liberty at any time to retire to same, and to lock ‘house’.10 In January 1945 the secretary wrote again or bolt the door or doors. He shall not be disturbed in concerning the appointment of female residents to two his room or rooms in any way.’8 of the medical charges: ‘The present residents look upon the prospect of women living in the Residency with In August 1914 the rules book recorded the resignations much concern and annoyance and feel that a vast of 12 of the 20 residents appointed in April, together majority of past residents must hold similar views.’ The with two chiefs, presumably all called into the Royal author can find no record of the reply. Army Medical Corps for the First World War. In the summer of 1915 it was necessary to appoint a final-year The foundation of the NHS in 1948 brought a number student to be a resident, and through 1916 to 1919 of changes. Residents were now paid, and all newly almost all the residents were final-year students. After qualified physicians were given provisional registration the end of the war, five students continued to make up until they had completed two six-month periods as a the number of residents in 1920, until a year later the 22 resident in an ‘approved’ hospital. A rule change granted residents were all qualified again. leave to the house officers with the board of management paying for a locum, provided that he or she was a In October 1921 Dr Janet Grant was appointed as registered physician and a member of the Medical resident for ward 35 and thus became the first female Defence Union. resident at the RIE. She was given accommodation in the history infirmary, not in the Mess. The year 1925 saw another In 1953 problems with discipline surfaced in the RIE, with amendment to the residency rules; ‘Undersigned the red ink recording disciplinary action and a resident undertakes for as long as he (sic) is a Resident Physician being dismissed, followed two years later by another

addition to the rules with a warning that misconduct It is also clear that the rules were constructed to would lead to immediate suspension and dismissal by the enhance the coffers of the Mess by a series of ‘fines’ board. At this time the SMMP had 11 residents, compared levied for misdemeanours and transgressions at dinner. with 29 in the RIE and a further nine in the Chalmers Each resident also had a specific role, function and title Street Annex. There must have been some concerns within the Mess (Table 1). In later years, as the titles of about behaviour for the superintendent saw fit to issue a the chiefs were changed, all positions became elected, typewritten document11 explaining why the SMMP had and a number of titles underwent subtle alteration or fewer problems with its residents: they were older, had even deletion. The weekly rotation of president was senior residents on site and staff rotated every three cancelled in place of a longer appointment, but the months so that newcomers learned from those in place. concept of the functions and titles remained. It is not clear to whom this document was sent or whether any action resulted. Fines Each evening the Mess gathered for dinner, during which By 1961 there were more than 40 residents in the RIE Mess business could be discussed and fines levied, from and around 20 in the SMMP, numbers which remained at one penny to half a crown, and even five shillings on those levels until, in 1974, the rules book was closed. occasion. The most heinous crime was to be late or not present at dinner, unless notification had been given on Life in the Residency the slate previously, and it was common practice for the chief, usually a former resident himself, to pay the fine if Early days, from 1879 he had kept his resident late. If the president failed to In the third RIE there was a purpose-built ‘Residency’ for read the list of fines before the end of the dinner he physicians and surgeons, with single bedrooms, a sitting- found that they were all automatically charged to him. room, a dining-room with tobacco and liquor cupboards which operated on the honesty principle of each Members were fined for miscalling Mess titles, or calling a resident signing and being billed for what was taken, a surgical resident ‘Dr’ instead of ‘Mr’ or sitting down kitchen, a music room with a piano and, outside, a fives before ‘Draw In’ or leaving one’s chair before ‘Draw Out’, court. James1 gives us an account of life in the Residency or before ‘Salvatore’ had been said, except with permission Mess, describing the food, the relaxation and the kitchen from the president. Those with specific functions could be concerts, which were renowned for the flow of beer, the fined for failing to maintain the standards demanded by impenetrable tobacco smoke and the noise, of which he their title. From these amusing, tongue-in-cheek records remarks that there were no complaints. In December it is possible to read that the Keeper of the Butler was 1897 the residents had written and performed their fined for ‘tough mutton’ at one dinner, but then had his own musical play, ‘A Trip to Moscow’, a spoof aimed at fines cancelled the next evening for ‘delicious’ salmon. The the chiefs who had gone to see how things were done Deity was fined if the weather was inclement or too hot there. A copy of the book and songs, with the names of and once when the sitting-room fire had refused to light, the cast, still exists.12 James describes the pranks that the while the Keeper of the Bogies was heavily fined for failing residents played upon each other. For example, they to perform restorative surgery on an incontinent wash- deluded one piano-playing resident into believing he basin which had been leaking for days. Only the Babe was could play so well that even cats would come to hear permitted to stand on his seat and would be fined if he him. He couldn’t, but they did, attracted by the valerian failed to do so when he addressed the president. He also scattered outside. had to obtain the permission of the Father before he touched alcohol, while Father was the only member The early 20th century allowed to admonish the Babe or to fall asleep in the After James there is a break in the story concerning life sitting-room before 11pm, a privilege granted in respect in the residency, only partially filled by some photographs of his advanced years. of individual residents, poems and two photographs of the residents in groups, dated and with their signatures Transgression of these rules resulted in fines all round. beneath. From September 1911, however, the narrative Fines could be challenged, and rescinded or doubled as resumes in the form of the Mess log books13 in which the President and Lawyer decided, but they could also history the president for the week wrote minutes after each be revoked for meritorious service, which was usually a dinner. Surprisingly perhaps, many of these minutes are story, a song, a poem or some other amusement for the legible, written in a light-hearted vein and uniformly members. One resident, when challenged by the amusing. There were also 18 pages of Mess rules, of Matrimonial Committee, allowed that he had kissed no which the only extant copy is from 1944. These covered fewer than six nurses at Christmas. Truly modest, he a myriad of topics and situations, including confining attributed his success to the mistletoe that he carried female residents exclusively to one bathroom upstairs with him and was pleased to find his health being drunk and prohibiting them from attending the two formal in recognition of his meritorious service. He was less dinners or from carving their names on the table. pleased to learn that no fines were being rescinded. In

table 1 Resident’s appointments, titles and functions in the Mess, as listed in the Mess log of 1911 (All residents had at least one appointment)

Mess Rotated each week, alphabetically. The Mess Elected titles President contact with the Hospital Superintendent Mess Wrote letters, obtained books, magazines Hereditary titles Secretary and newspapers Mace Bearer Resident to the Professor of Clinical Surgery and Librarian Whisky Resident to the Senior Professor of Clinical Mess Parson Gave a sermon at the formal dinners and Jimmy Medicine. Purveyor of fine wines and liquors when requested Keeper of Resident to the Professor of Systematic Mess Stallion Often in conflict with the Keeper of the the Billiard Surgery Virgins, below Room Keeper of Kept the nurses from being ‘frightened and Keeper Resident to the Professor of Systematic the Virgins disturbed’ of the Medicine. At formal dinners had to appear Immoral Amused the Mess with vulgarity when called Bathroom in dressing gown, roller towel and slippers Thinker upon Keeper of Resident to the Junior Professor of Clinical Mess Expected to perform when events at dinner the Bogies Medicine. Responsible for the condition and Orator and were slack functioning of the toilets Mess Poet Keeper of Resident to the second Junior Medical Chief Mess Belcher Called upon to relieve the Mess during dinner the Butler Mess Chosen for the most suitable bodily Baccy Bob Resident to the second non-professorial Prostate configuration surgeon. Purveyor of tobacco, matches and The Left The tallest and shortest members of smoking appurtenances to the members and Right the Mess, seated either side of the Vice- Keeper Resident to the most junior surgeon in charge Testicles President. of the of a ward. At Mess dinners had to wear a The Deity Rarely praised but frequently blamed Catheter catheter, visible, in case it was required Keeper of The treasurer Keeper of Resident to the most Junior Medical Chief. the Purse the Lizzies Ensured no swearing in the housekeepers’ presence Mess Provided opinions for disputed fines Lawyer Father The oldest resident. The only person who could admonish the Babe Mess Permitted to have second helpings at meals Tapeworm without being fined The Babe The youngest resident. Had to wear a bib at the table, was permitted to make a mess and Peeping Tom The secret police had to seek permission to drink alcohol and Peeping Tit Limners Always from the Surgical Outpatients’ Dept, these were the ‘chuckers out’ at the dinners Matrimonial Challenged engagements, marriages and Committee births

practice, with pages of these complicated rules and traditionally had been donated by each departing Mess, explanations, it was impossible not to be fined for was on the table, and formal menus were printed with the something. At the end of each Mess the accumulated names of the guests and the speakers, the list of toasts to funds were used, in theory, to pay for any damage to the the monarch, the guests, the residents and, latterly, the Mess; it should be noted to the residents’ credit that the ladies, with appropriate replies. The food and wines were February 1918 Mess had a surplus of £50 with which discussed with the Butler, who liaised with the kitchen. they bought War Bonds and established a trust fund for the infirmary.14 Reviewing the mass of receipts and bank Several copies of the invitations exist in the CRC archives, statements it is clear that each subsequent Mess and quotes from a small selection provide an overview of followed this procedure or something similar and added what was to be expected. One recipient was advised to to the trust fund until the formation of the NHS. wear his oldest dinner jacket as ‘things get rowdy’. Another who wondered what he should say in his speech was told Formal dinners that brevity and vulgarity were expected and appreciated. Each Mess held two formal black-tie dinners, to which It was explained to one invitee that the previous dinner usually two or three guests were invited. On these two had been a great event but that the current Mess was still evenings medical ‘coverage’ of the wards was provided by settling bills for the damage. There was constant friction the more senior members of staff, nearly always former at the difficulty the incoming Mess had in getting the history residents but now registrars or senior registrars. In outgoing perpetrators of the damage to pay. The infirmary deference to guests, fines were not levied on such refused to pay and even sent a bill for the cleaning of two occasions. At these dinners the Mess silver, pieces that statues after they had been ‘decorated’, to the disgust of

accompanied by Princess Mary, opened the university’s new King’s Buildings and then visited the RIE and the Residency Mess. All three provided a clear signature and date which were later professionally carved and surrounded with an oval. Although at first female residents were prohibited from adding their names, this misogynist injustice was rescinded, certainly by the mid- 1950s, and their signatures bear witness to women’s assimilation into the Mess.

Entertainments and activities In the post-war years the Mess sitting-room was Figure 3 Prince Philip’s signature on the residents’ tabletop. furnished with couches and chairs that may once have Just above, the Residency butler, Robert Morris, signed his name. been comfortable, a black and white television set and a radiogram. The superintendent had proposed and set up the Mess members who claimed that the statues had a billiard room. A selection of newspapers, delivered to been improved by the decoration. the dining-room at breakfast time, were removed to the sitting-room later and an attempt was made to get some Guests of the Edinburgh booksellers and publishers to donate In the early years at Lauriston Place the hospital medical books to create a library. With their letters of superintendent and the manager were invited to formal rejection each included their price list of books, so the dinners on several occasions, suggesting a degree of message was clear. In 1913 the Mess itself had published affability existed between them all. A favourite guest, it an in-house magazine called The Infirmary Independent, seems, was Professor Sir John Fraser who was invited which comprised some poems and stories written by several times, once with his wife, and at Christmas the the residents and was professionally printed. Volume couple sent 500 Turkish cigarettes as a gift to the Mess. one, number one exists in the archives, but it seems that In April 1961 the Mess invited Prince Philip, Duke of only one edition of this magazine ever appeared. Edinburgh and a former Rector of the University, to be the guest of honour. On this occasion the Infirmary When, in 1913, ward 22 was empty the residents asked if management felt it incumbent upon them to repaint the this could be used for badminton and the superintendent dining-room, the hallways and the closest toilet, this last agreed. The fives court fell into disuse, but the being the recipient of a coat of pink paint. All went superintendent arranged for a tennis court near the extremely well, Prince Philip so enjoying himself that he Nurses’ Home, which proved more popular and involved overran the schedule and the London train had to be matches between the residents of the RIE, SMMP, the held for him. Of course he signed his name, a large bold Nurses’ Home and eventually the hospital laboratory ‘Philip’, on the table, which was later professionally staff. In the early years at Lauriston Place several cricket carved (Figure 3). A visit to the toilet prior to departure and football matches were arranged against local amateur reputedly caused him to say to the Mess president: teams such as Ramsay Lodge and the King’s Theatre ‘Hideous colour, but spanking clean.’ pantomime actors, hockey matches were played against Craighouse Mental Hospital and, in addition, there were The guest lists offer a profusion of names of younger staff rugby matches between the wards. Sir John Fraser had members on their promotion and those of older members presented the Mess with a golf trophy for competition who were retiring or moving to a post elsewhere, along between the residents, and in April 1913 some golfers set with a mixture of non-medical men – lawyers, other off by horse-drawn carriage from Edinburgh at midnight, professionals or figures of note. aiming for an early start at Gullane the next day.

The dining-room table The tradition of kitchen concerts was carried on until an The table was constructed as three separate panels; as extension of the kitchens in 1904 brought them to an each became replete with carved signatures it was end. Visits to the theatre were very popular, especially to history replaced with a new one. At Lauriston Place the filled Theatre Royal, the King’s Theatre and the Royal Lyceum. panels were hung on the walls of the billiard room. The One president wrote resignedly in the nightly post- Mess rules stipulated that a resident must have lived in dinner minutes: ‘17 applicants for 17 seats at the theatre. the Mess for five months before he was allowed to sign There is a danger of everyone being satisfied but it can’t and carve his name. Dates could only be attached by be helped.’ A theatre tradition grew up of the residents those residents who had lived in the Mess for at least rising ‘as one’ at the intervals and entering the bar which two terms. While the date of the first carvings can only they then dominated to the consternation of the staff be guessed at, Turner2 suggests this was between 1870 and the other patrons who were anxious to be served. and 1879. In July 1920 King George V and Queen Mary, On one annual visit to Edinburgh the D’Oyly Carte

Figure 4 Residents with members of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company on the roof of the Edinburgh Residency Mess, c. 1920. (With kind permission of the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Library.)

Opera Company gave a concert in the surgical theatre and then repaired to the residency for tea. There is Figure 5 Butler Robert Morris, who served the Residency a photograph of the residents with the cast (Figure 4), Mess for 43 years. (With kind permission of Pulse magazine.) in which the smiling young ladies of the Company look extremely fetching in their long dresses and large for three months each, culminating in their formal dinner. hats. The residents, crowding close to them, also seem Several of the Mess titles had been ‘retired’ or their very happy. names changed for various reasons, but the main principles from the 1880s were maintained. Fines were 1950 and onwards still enforced at every dinner, and all the egregious Once again there is a gap in the narrative as no log or restrictions on female residents had been rescinded. minutes were maintained in the 1920s, 1930s or the war There were six or seven tabletops on the walls of the years. In the 1950s, after the NHS was established, all billiard room, but the theatre visits and outdoor activities medical graduates had to complete six months as medical were sadly diminished. and six months as surgical house officers before obtaining full registration to practise. All house officers were now Residency staff paid, although this was taxed, and the hospital charged for room and board. The 1960 Royal Commission15 admitted With the move to Lauriston Place the RIE hired the first that the junior staff had been underpaid, and salaries for ‘Steward’, Mr Macpherson, in 1879. Mr Boyd, who replaced house officers were increased to £675 for the first post him as Mess Butler, retired around 1915 and was replaced and to £750 for the second post. by Mr Whatmore, who served the Mess until 1924. From 1905 the Butlers were assisted by the Housekeeper, Miss Despite this sudden affluence, the system of Mess fines Kate Allan, who, with her charges known as ‘Lizzies’, was continued to raise money for the ‘Comfort Fund’, to served the Mess for 43 years before retiring in 1948. In pay for the newspapers, records and other essentials. 1924 Mr Robert Morris, lately of the Seaforth Highlanders, The tobacco and liquor cupboards continued to operate became the Mess Butler (Figure 5). At first all his charges on the honesty system. In 1950 Mess residents showed were male but by the time female residents joined the their social conscience by organising a charity ball in Mess, Morris was set in his ways and continued as though Edinburgh, and a considerable sum was presented to the nothing of significance had occurred. All residents were Scottish National Institute for the War Blinded. This was treated with the same courtesy and given the same repeated in 1951 with greater success when 900 guests attention, regardless of gender. Morris oversaw the three added a substantial contribution, while the 1952 funds daily meals, although these were prepared in the main were donated to the Forces Help Society. The charity kitchen and sent to the subsidiary kitchen of the Mess. No ball was dropped in subsequent years. one needed to tell him that a resident was going to be late: he already knew and had set food aside to be kept By the time that the author’s class of 1961 became warm. If, on occasion, a resident was ill, he arranged members of the Residency Mess the deprivations and special meals to be delivered to the bedroom. In short he rationing of the war and immediate post-war years were ran the Mess as if the residents were his own children. history over, and all chiefs in medicine and surgery had two residents. The weekly rotation of the Mess president At the formal dinners Morris came into his own. The Mess had been abandoned in favour of two presidents elected silver was polished until it glowed, the table placements

were immaculate, all the ‘named’ chairs were in their themselves, regularly asked about the lives and activities in correct positions around the table and the decorations, the current Mess, rekindling their own memories and menus and place cards for the visitors and speakers were stories, and education was expanded by discussions of in their proper positions. The meal itself was presented patients and treatments. Being totally immersed in one and the speeches completed usually with much merriment ward the resident knew the details of each patient, until its high point – the recitation by Morris of ‘The Saga monitoring response to treatment or surgery, and seeing of Pete the Piddling Pup’. Such was his fame that in 1965 them again when they returned as outpatients for follow- the medical magazine Pulse published an article about up, a microcosm of awaiting medical careers in the wider him with three photographs, including one of Morris world. Every evening was shared around the table over standing before the sideboard which he and ‘Pete’ had so dinner. In discussions with colleagues, there is general often graced.16 When finally, after serving the Mess for agreement that residency life provided numerous advantages, 43 years, Morris retired on 4 May 1967, he was given a relationships, insights and opportunities which have been party in the large surgical theatre with a presentation helpful throughout our careers. By the excision of the from generations of grateful residents. Residency Mess from the start of their career new graduates today are denied an opportunity to acquire Ad Finem responsibility for their actions and patients, which may yet prove to have unwanted repercussions. Medical education and training have undergone many changes over the years, nearly all of these for the better. In Acknowledgements All the surviving records are now the early years of the NHS the residents, like McKinley, stored in the Centre for Research Collections in the were expected to devote all their time to the hospital with Edinburgh University Library. There are 184 separate no official leave. In reality, they covered for each other files and folders, EUL LHSA, LHBx/115/1 to EUL LHSA, outside what might be called ‘regular working hours’, and LHBx/117B/11. I am most grateful to Mrs Rosie Baillie, the Residency fostered a spirit of camaraderie that lasted Lothian Health Services Assistant Archivist, who made throughout entire careers. Senior staff, past residents these available to me for study.

References

1 James A. The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Old Residents’ Club. The 9 The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Notes for the guidance of Scottish Medical and Surgical Journal 1898; III:136–43. Residents. Superintendent’s Office; September 1932. EUL LHSA, 2 Turner AL. The story of a great hospital: the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh LHBx/114/6. 1729–1929. Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd; 1937. 10 Letters. EUL LHSA, LHBx/117/3. 3 Minutes of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh; January 1803. 11 Medical Superintendent. Discipline in the Residencies. November 4 Minutes of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh; March 1818. 1957. EUL LHSA, LHBx/114/2. 5 List of Residents 1838–1909. EUL LHSA, LHBx/116/2. 12 A Trip to Moscow, in two acts, KC 1897. EUL LHSA, LHBx/115/14. 6 Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Old Residents’ Club. List of Residents 13 Log Books of the Residency Mess. four volumes September 1843–1905. Edinburgh: George Waterston and Son; 1906. EUL 1911–February 1915. EUL LHSA, LHBx/115/1–4. LHSA, LHBx/116/1. 14 Mess Fund Deed of Trust. EUL LHSA, LHBx/115/15 and 16. 7 List of Residents. 6 volumes 1838–1945. EUL LHSA, LHBx/116/4–9. 15 Royal Commission on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, 1957– 8 Rules subscribed by Resident Physicians and Surgeons. 5 volumes 1960. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office; 1960. 1895–1974. EUL LHSA, LHBx/114/1–5. 16 Dopson L. Doctor’s butler. Pulse 10 July 1965; 8. history